The Emu is the largest bird native
to Australia and
the only extant member of the genus Dromaius. It is the second-largest extant
bird in the world by height, after its ratite relative,
the ostrich. There are three subspecies of Emus in
Australia. The Emu is common over most of mainland Australia, although it
avoids heavily populated areas, dense forest, and arid areas.
The soft-feathered, brown, flightless birds reach up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) in
height. They have long thin necks and legs. Emus can travel great distances at
a fast, economical trot and, if necessary, can sprint at 50 km/h
(31 mph) for some distance at a time. Their long legs allow them to take
strides of up to 275 centimetres (9.02 ft)[6] They
are opportunistically nomadic and may travel long distances to find food; they
feed on a variety of plants and insects, but have been known to go weeks
without food. Emus ingest stones, glass shards and bits of metal to grind food
in the digestive system. They drink infrequently, but take in copious fluids
when the opportunity arises. Emus will sit in water and are also able to swim.
They are curious birds who are known to follow and watch other animals and
humans. Emus do not sleep continuously at night but in several short stints
sitting down.
Emus use their strongly clawed feet as a defence mechanism. Their
legs are among the strongest of any animals, allowing them to rip metal wire
fences. They are endowed with good eyesight and hearing, which allows them to
detect predators in the vicinity. The plumage varies regionally, matching the
surrounding environment and improving its camouflage. The feather structure
prevents heat from flowing into the skin, permitting Emus to be active during
the midday heat. They can tolerate a wide range of temperatures and thermo regulate effectively. Males and females are
hard to distinguish visually, but can be differentiated by the types of loud
sounds they emit by manipulating an inflatable neck sac. Emus breed in May and
June and are not monogamous; fighting among females for a mate is common.
Females can mate several times and lay several batches of eggs in one season.
The animals put on weight before the breeding season, and the male does most of
the incubation, losing significant weight during this time as he does not eat. The
eggs hatch after around eight weeks, and the young are nurtured by their
fathers. They reach full size after around six months, but can remain with
their family until the next breeding season half a year later. Emus can live
between 10 and 20 years in the wild and are predated by dingos, eagles and hawks. They can jump and
kick to avoid dingos, but against eagles and hawks, they can only run and
swerve.
The Tasmanian Emu and King Island Emu subspecies that previously inhabited Tasmania and King Island became extinct after theEuropean settlement of Australia in 1788; and the distribution of the
mainland subspecies has been influenced by human activities. Once common on the
east coast, Emu are now uncommon; by contrast, the development of agriculture
and the provision of water for stock in the interior of the continent have
increased the range of the Emu in arid regions, and it is of Least Concern for conservation. They were a food and
fuel source for indigenous Australians and early European settlers. Emus are
farmed for their meat, oil, and leather. Emu is a lean meat and while
it is often claimed by marketers that the oil has anti-inflammatory and
anti-oxidative effects, this has not been scientifically verified in humans.
The Emu is an important cultural icon of Australia. It appears on the coat of arms, various coins, features
prominently in Indigenous
Australian mythology,
and hundreds of places are named after the bird.
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